Cigarette dispenser



May 26, 1953 R. M. FREDERICK 2,539,960,

CIGARETTE n sppu ssa Filed May 23, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. l

Fig. 3 J

I N VEN TOR.

Robert M. Frederick Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1Claim.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a cigarettedispenser, and more specifically pertains to an improved automaticstorage and dispensing device for cigarettes and the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improvedconstruction of a combined storage and dispensing device, and onewherein the dispensing mechanism shall have an improved and extremelyeflicient mechanism for automatically removing a single cigarette or thelike from a storage magazine and dispensing the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism inconformity with the preceding objects which shall be capable ofconvenient and compact mounting in various attractive types of cabinetsand the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus inconformity with the foregoing objects in which a dispensing tray shallremove a single cigarette from a storage magazine while positivelypreventing egress of other cigarettes stored therein; shall withdraw theselected cigarette to a predetermined position, and shall automaticallylift or eject the cigarette from the tray into a position for easyremoval of the same,

' Yet another object of the invention is to pro- .vide an apparatus inconformity with the forei going objects which shall consist of a minimumof moving parts, shall be entirely dependable and automatic in itsoperation, and shall be of inexpensive and light-weight construction.

These, together with various ancillary features I and objects of theinvention which will later become apparent as the foilowing descriptionproceeds, are attained by the present invention, preferred embodimentsof which have been illustrated, by way of example only, in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a, perspective view of one embodiment of apparatusincorporating therein the .principles of this invention and specificallyadapted for us in automobiles, cars or other vehicles and similarenvironments;

. View taken substantially upon the plane indicated I by the sectionline 33 of Figure 1, and showing the interior construction of theembodiment of Figurel, the parts being shown in the closed v position ofthe dispensing tray;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure butshow ing the position of theparts when the tray is in its open or dispensing position;

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View through theembodiment of Figure 2, showing the dispensing tray in its closedposition, this view being taken substantially upon the plane indicatedby the section line 55 of Figure 6; and

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 6-4: of Figure 5.

cigarette from the cabinet; and automatically elevating or rejecting thecigarette from the withdrawing means constitutes an essential feature ofthis invention and may be embodied in a variety of cabinets of differenttypes, specifically adapted for specialized uses, two of these uses orarrangements being shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring first to the arrangement of Figure 1, it will be seen thatthere is disclosed a cabinet indicated generally 'by the numeral Ill andwhich may be of any desired construction, size, shape, material andappearance, it being only essential that the same shall contain thereinan upper chamber constituting a magazine or storage chamber 12 forreceiving cigarettes or similar articles, and a lower chamber [4 inwhich is movably received the actuating mechanism of the automaticdispenser. Preferably, the cabinet II) will be of an attractive and evenornamental ap pearance, and will be constructed of inexpensive andlight-weight materials, such as plastic or sheet metal, having therequisite strength.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1,' 3 and 4, the cabinet Itincludes a pair of side walls 16, a back Wall [3, a, bottom wall 20,these walls being conveniently of an integral or a rigidly assembledconstruction.

In suitable horizontally disposed grooves or channels 22 formed in theupper adjacent surfaces of the side walls It is slidably received apanel 24 constituting a support for or the base of an ash tray or thelike, indicated generally at 26. By this means, the ash tray may beslidably removed from the cabinet when it is desired to empty, cleanseorservice the same or to charge I the magazine or reservoir l2, andmaybe effectively retained upon the cabinet when the side edges of theplate 24 are received in the channels 22.

The bottom of the magazine I2 is constituted by an inclined bottom wall28, which extends and is connected to the two side walls It and to theback wall 18, the bottom wall sloping downwardly and forwardly towardthe front of the cabinet, but terminating short thereof to provide adischarge opening therebetween.

The upper portion of the front of the cabinet is closed, as by a panel38 which may be integral with or may be separately attached to the wallsof the cabinet, leaving an opening 32 below the panel 30. Upon theadjacent surfaces of the side walls 16 there are provided laterallyextending ribs 34 constituting supports or guides upon-which is slidablymounted a panel 36 of anydesiredmaterial and referred to hereinafter asa tray. This tra 36 is provided with a panel 33 atits front extremitywhich is adapted to enclose or cover .thexopeningdfi in the front of.the cabinet. A knob or the like 46 may be appliedto the'closurepanel-38 tofacilitate movement of;the tray. The

:tray can be slid into the cabinet, as shown in Figure 3, or may be-slidoutwardly therefrom as ishownin Figure 4. in either position, however,.the upper surface of the tray slidably engages -the under surface ofthe bottom wall .28 of the {magazine [2 'to'at all times close thedischarge opening thereof except when an appropriately ,positioned slot#32 extending vertically through .thetray36 is in registry withthisdischarge opening. It vis of course possible that -a recess in the'upper surface of the tray 36 might be substituted for the slot 42, itbeing merely essential that .thereis provided a space which is of asufficient asize to receive therein a single-cigarette or other .article44 stored in the magazine .i2 whereby, when the tray is withdrawn, thecigarette 44 recessed therein will be withdrawn therewith.

It will be seen that as sofar. described when the .trayis pushed intoitsclosed position as shown .Figure 3 a cigarette, under the influenceof gravity, will drop from the magazine l2 through thedischarg openingand into the recess 42 of .thetray, whereby, when the tray ismoved toits open position as shown in Figure 4,.this cigarette .may bewithdrawnfrom therecess or slot 42, the

discharge opening beingclosed the moment the -recess 412 .is outofregistry with thesame toprevent removal of any other cigarette than thatwhich is received andrecessed withinthe opening 42.

'However, the principles of .this'invention further .include not only.the .above described tray construction for withdrawing a singlecigarette *from'a storage magazinebut also comprise means forautomatically ejecting or elevating the ciga- =rettes so withdrawn intoaposition'for'convenient removal by the user. This automatic ejectingmechanism.may obviouslybe of various construc- .tiOIlS, that illustratedin the drawings being .deemed .to .be highly. satisfactory for purposes1 of :this invention.

Secured to either one or .apair iof depending supporting standards 46attached to the under .surface of the tray 35 and withinthe chamber|4,.as by a pivot pin M5, is a lever.50 which has ,itscenter ofgravityiorwardly of the pivot pin48 whereby the lever is normallygravity-urged into what may be termed its lowered position. This loweredposition of the lever is limited by the engagement of a cam or stopsurface 52 appropriately shaped and formed upon therear portion ofthelever, this stop surface being adapted .to

engage the under surface of the tray 36 and to limit furthercounter-clockwise rotation of the lever with respect to the tray. At itsother end. the lever is provided with an upstanding arm 54 which has acylindrical member 56 thereon constituting a cradle for supporting andreceiving one of the cigarettes 44. The arm 54 and cradle 58 are sodisposed that when the lever is in its low-.ered'position,assvshown'inFigure 3, the cradle will bedisposedjustabove the lower edge'of the slot 42 to constitute a bottomfor the same and support a cigarette 44 therein, as shown in Figure 3.

However, when the lever is rotated in a clockwise direction, as shown inFigure 4, the arm 54 and cradle 58 will be raised, thus elevating thecigarette resting upon the cradle into an elevated vvposition, wherebythe same may be readily and accessibly removed by the user.

Iniorder to effect this clockwise rotation of the lever, a camarrangement is provided consisting of an appropriatelycurvedlowencamming-surface 5.8 .formed on .the front portion. of .the lever,

which is adapted toengagewitha fixed surface 60 vformed'by the bottomedge of theslot .or opening 32 of the front of the cabinet. It will .nowbe seenthat byappropriately contouring the cam surfacefiflthatuponopeningof the tray 36 tothe position shown in Figure 4, the cam surface.58 will slide upon the fixed surface .Eiland thus cause the raising or.clockwisemovementof the lever to. eifect elevating of the cradle anditscig- 'removably mounted upon vertical surfaces'such as the windshield,window glass or'various-panels within a motor vehicle, or in variousother environments.

"Referring now to the embodimentillustrated 'iniFigures 2, 5, and'6,it-will beseen that'there is .disclosed a similar construction ofcabinet, in- :dicated generallyby-the numeral '10, this cabinet havingside walls 12,.a back-wall having ends 21:6-and"i8 which extendrespectively above and :belowthe topland bottom of the cabinet TO-andare provided with apertures by means of which athebabinetrmay bemountedor supported. The cabinet .is further provided-with a-bottom=wal1 ;.82,.-a;top wall 84,. and with. a frontpanel BB'pre'ferablyintegrally formed-with the top wallM. It iscontemplated thatthesidewalls and bottom wall I shall be of integral construction, as shown.in'Figure 6,-withthe back wall 12 being removable, and with an integralpartitionBB formed-in the interior of 'thecabinet and dividing thesameinto an ash tray compartment!!! formed'inthe lower portion of thecabinet and a space above the same. .Slidably receive-din the ashtraycompartment!!! isa conventional form of ashtray 92 of any'desiredcharacter, the same "having integrally attached thereto a front wallill-which also-constitutes a closure panelhaving-a closure handle96,"for the front of the cabinet. .Sup-

ported upon integral ribs or 'rails 98 whichlare positioned upon theadjacent surfaces of the side walls 12 and midway between the partition88 and the top panel St is a slidable panel mil constituting a tray andwhich is provided with a panel H12 at its front end having a knob- IMand constituting a further closure for the open front of the cabinet. Asin the preceding embodiment, this tray is provided with a recess or slotH16, and carries depending support brackets m3 upon which is pivoted, asat i ii), a lever I i2 having a camming surface 5 it, a curved stopsurface- HS, a support arm H8 and a cigarette receiving cradle: IN, allas disclosed in the preceding embodiment. The tray divides the upperportion of the cabinet into two compartments, that indicated at I 22constituting a magazine having a bottom wall 624 of identically the sameconstruction as that set forth in connection with the previousembodiment, and a lower compartment I26 which receives the tray and theejecting mechanism.

The operation of this form of the invention is identical with thatpreviously set forth except for the slightly different construction ofthe cover for the magazine and the provision of a slidable ash traywithin the base of the cabinet.

It is to be understood that the novel tray, and the automatic ejectingmechanism may 0bviously be used with various types of cabinets and indifferent constructions as desired, the two cabinets illustrated beingintended as illustrative rather than restrictive of the principles ofthe invention.

Since, from the foregoing, the construction and advantages of thiscigarette dispenser are readily apparent, further description isbelieved to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications and equivalents will readily occurto those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoingspecification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit theinvention to the exact embodiment shown and described, but all suitablemodifications and equivalents may be resorted to which fall within thescope of the appended claim.

Having described the claimed as new is:

A cigarette dispenser comprising a cabinet having a magazine forcigarettes, said magazine having a sloping bottom wall with a dischargeopening, said cabinet having a front wall with an aperture therein, ahorizontally disposed integral flat, plate-like cigarette delivery trayslidably mounted in said cabinet below said bottom Wall and slidablethrough the upper portion of said aperture, said tray having a verticalslot extending entirely therethrough and registrable with said dischargeopening for receiving a single cigarette, a lever disposed beneath saidtray and mounted thereon for vertically pivoting movement, a cigarettesupport member on said lever receivable and vertically movable throughsaid vertical slot, an actuating cam on the bottom surface of said leverengageable with the lower edge of said aperture in the open position ofthe tray for imparting upward pivoting movement to the lever andeffecting upward movement of the support member through the verticalslot, an abutment surface on said lever engageable with the bottomsurface of the tray to limit downward movement of the lever and haltdownward travel of the support member within the bottom portion of thevertical slot.

invention, what is ROBERT M. FREDERICK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 368,874 Cole Aug. 23, 1887 385,575 Shiek July 3, 1888 520,063Kissenger May 22, 1894 553,250 Militzer Jan. 21, 1896 607,537 BenjaminJuly 19, 1898 753,824 Caldwell et a1 Mar. 1, 1904

